Separator



April 22, 1930. E. s. RQYE'R 1,755,364

I SEPARATOR Filed March 24. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Hum E. S. ROYER SEPARATOR April 22, 1930.

Filed March 24, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Plillillillllli Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UITED STATES ENOS S. RQYER, OF WILKES-BARBE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO B. J. ODONNELL, OF VIILKES-BARRE,'PENNSYLVANIA SEPARATOR This invention relates to a separator designed primarily for use in reclaiming sand such as used in foundries. Sand of this type, which is of difierent grades, is usually treated in various ways so as to maintain the proper form in which it is shaped in the flask or case. After the mold thus produced has served its purpose, it is desirable to again use the sand. Before this is possible, however, it is necese sary to remove therefrom any scrap" metal that maybe mixed therewith and also to reduce the sand to a comminuted state so that it can be correctly shaped about the pattern or a mold being prepared for casting. While various machines have been devised for this purpose, they have not generally been successful under all conditions. For example it 7 has been difiicult to construct a machine which will stand up through long continued use because of the excessive wear to which it is subjected while cutting through and'disintegrating the caked sand fed thereto.

Furthermore the means heretofore employed have not always successfully reduced to granular form extremely hard sand which has been made into hard cakes.

Another difiiculty found in connection with machines heretofore used has been the separation of scraps from the sand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and efficient machine which will operate efiiciently' on all kinds of sand, will withstand to the maximum the wearing action of the sand, and can be ad justed to deliver only sand of a predetermined mesh.

Another object is toprovide' a machine of this character which will act efficiently to separate the scrap from the sand. will not'become choked by the lodging oflarge particles or lumps of sand between the sand reducing elements, and which will quickly reduce to a granular condition large lumps which heretofore have resisted the action of reclaiming mechanisms.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the accompanying drawingsthe preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings, ".Figure 1 is a viewshowing the machine in side elevation, parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the hopper and the parts associated therewith. Figure 3 is a top plan view of a por the separator.

Figure ,4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4l, Figure 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates apedestal of any suitable construction on which is mounted a head 2 adapted to swing back and forth to a limited extent about a pivot pin 3. On the head 2 is mounted a motor a the shaft 5 of which has a sprocket 6 for transmitting motion through a chain 7 to another sprocket 8. This last sprocket is secured to a transverse shaft 9 mounted in suitable bearings provided for that purpose and which bearings aresup ported by the head 2. A hopper 10 is fixedly connected to the head 2 and has an opentop, as shown. The side walls 11 of the hopper are extended below the front and back walls 12 and 13 thereof to constitute aprons for securing downward deliveryof the granular material into a receptacle or other structure for receiving the same. V

The hopper is provided along its sides with superposed angle bars 14 which are parallel, the lower angle bar at each side being provided with a longitudinal slot 15. Interposed between the upper and lower angle bars at each side of the machine are bearin blocks 16 each of which is preferably provided with upwardly and downwardly extending shoulders 17 for engaging the outer edges of the bars 14 as shown particularly in Figure 4. Threaded studs 18 are extended downwardly from the blocks through the slot 15 and are ion of adapted to be tightened by means of nuts 19 whereby the blocks can be held against longitudinal movement relative to the angle bars 14. In addition to these threaded studs, set screws can be provided if desired, these set screws being extended through the upper angle bars for binding upon the top faces of the blocks 16.

J ournalled within the blocks 16 are trans,- verse shafts 21. These shafts are parallel and each of them has a gang of circular disks 22 fixed thereto in any suitable manner. The

disks are regularly spaced apart and are all of the same diameter. The disks on each shaft, however, project between the disks on the next adjoining shaft so that a staggered arrangement of disks is thus provided as shown particularly in Figure 3. The disks can be any desired distance apart so as to vary the sizes of "the openings between the shafts and, obviously, by loosening the blocks 16 the shafts can all be adjusted relative to each other thereby to vary the distances between the disks and the next adjoining shaft. In this way the machine may be adjusted to predetermine the size of the comminuted material delivered between the disks.

Each shaft 21 has a pinion 23 at one end thereof and each pinion meshes with a pinion 24 carried by a longitudinal shaft 25. This shaft may be journalled in arms 26 extending laterally from one of the angle bars 14 and, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, shaft and the gears 24 and 2.3 can all be located in a housing 27straddling the angle bars and attached thereto by the studs 18 and set screws 20 or by any other suitable means provided for that purpose. The shaft 9 heretofore referred to has a pinion 28 secured therto which meshes with a pinion-29 at one end of the shaft 25. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 9 is driven by means of the chain 7 and the sprockets engaged thereby, all of the shafts 21 will be simultaneously rotated in the same direction and at the same speed.

The series of shafts 21 are disposed in an inclined plane extending beneath the end walls 12 and 13 of the hopper. Thus the shafts with their disks, cooperate to form a combined cutting and screening element which is inclined downwardly toward one end. At the lower end of this series of cutting and screening elements is a tail board 30 for receiving tailings delivered from the disks and directing them out of one end of the machine.

Arranged beneath the shafts 21 are cross bars 31 and each of these cross bars carries a series of fingers 32 which project into the spaces between the disks 22 carried by the shaft thereabove. These fingers constitute brushes for removing obstructions from between the disks.

In reclaiming used foundry sand it is Very often necessary to add a quantity of new sand and to thoroughly blend the same with the old or used sand in order to restore the lost or burnt out bonding element formerly contained in the old or used sand. Likewise in the preparation of various core sands such as used in foundries and in the preparation of other finely comminuted mixtures, it is essential that .a thorough blend of the ingredients be effected. By 'providing the fingers 32 arranged as described, this blending action will take place. It will be noted that the fingers 32 are located entirely beneath the shaft 21 and are extended radially therefrom.

Thus no matter in which direction the disks and shafts are rotated the fingers will be equally efficient as scraping and blending means.

It is to be understood that it is not necessary under all conditions to use the bars 31 and fingers 32. Some kinds of sand, however, tend to clog more readily than do others and it has been found, where such sand has been used, that fingers such as described are desir able to prevent the machine from clogging.

The delivery end of the machine has a suppleinental supporting peoestal 33 provided with superposed ears 34. An arm 35 extending from one end of the hopper structure extends betweenthese arms and is provided with a guide rod 36 slidable within the ears 34. Springs 37 are interposed between the ears 34 and the arm 35 and constitute means for yieldingly supporting said arm and the parts to which it is connected.

Mounted to swing within the hopper is a follower 38 which can be in the form of a metal shell 'or any other suitable structure adapted to work upwardly and downwardly within the hopper. This follower, which is pivotally mounted at one end as shown at 39, may be provided with a handle 40 extending from its other end by means of which it can be manipulated readily. Under ordinary conditions this follower is swung upwardly away from the hopper as shown by broken lines in Figure 2.

In practice the mechanism is set in operation and motion is transmitted from the motor 4 so as to cause all of the disks to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure .2. It is to be understood that, if preferred, the disks can be rotated in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows and, as a matter of fact, under some conditions, this direction of rotation is desirable because it materially assists in the downward feed of the material fed to the disks. The operation of this mechanism will produce a certain amount of vibration which, by reason of the pivotal mounting of the head 2 and the resilient support of the arm 35, will result in a rapid up and down vibration of the mechanism which will tend to facilitate the passage of granular material downwardly between the disks. With the'follower 38 swung back as indicated for example by broken lines in Figure 2, the case or flask containing the used sand, is emptied into the'hopper 10 so that the sand will be supported by the rotating disks 22. Thus the disks will rapidly cut into and disintegrate the caked sand and as the sand is reduced to particles of a predetermined size, it will sift downwardly through the openings provided bebe mixed with the sand, will gravitate gradually along the disks and be delivered onto the board 80. Should there be any exceptionally hard sand within the hopper which is found difficult to disintegrate, the follower 38 can be forced downwardly thereonto and force lumps of the sand against the disks to cause them to cut thereinto and break them up into small particles.

As the follower swings in a plane parallel with the planes of rotation of the disks, it will be apparent that the results obtained will be superior to those that would occur should the cutting element be movable in planes extending horizontally, for example. This is due to the fact that the pressure by the follower will tend to force the sand downwardly between the disks after it has been cut up or disintegrated by said disks, thereby preventing the mechanism fro-1n becoming clogged. The follower also, by thus pressing the mate rial against the edges of the disks, holds the material where it will be out into positively and insure its reduction to granular form.

NVhile the separator has been described primarily for use in reclaiming sand such as used in foundries, etc., it is to be understood that it can also be used for separating any other kinds of granular material.

What is claimed is 1. Aseparatorincludingacontainer forholding material to be separated, a pivoted support therefor, a resilient support therefor, a bottom for the container including parallel series of disks disposed in lapped and staggered relation to provide outlet orifices therebetween, and means supported with the container for simultaneously rotating all of the disks in one direction and vibrating the container.

2. A separator including a container for material to be separated, an inclined bottom therefor including parallel series of disks disposed in lapped relation to provide outlet orifices therebetween, means for yieldingly supporting the container, and means for simultaneously rotating all of the disks in one direction and for vibrating the container.

3. The combination with a structure piv- 'otally mounted, and a resilient support for the structure, of a container on said structure for holding material to be separated, parallel series of lapping disks constituting the bottom of the container, means on said structure for simultaneously rotating all of the disks, said means adapted to vibrate the structure during the actuation of the disks.

4. A separator including a feeding hopper, rotatable disks having cutting edges spaced to support oversize material and to pass undersize material, said disks forming the bottom of the hopper and said hopper having an opening for the discharge of oversize material, and a follower for'pressing material against and between'the disks. 7

5. A separator including a feedinghopper, rotatable cutting elements forming the bottom of the hopperand having spaced cutting edges for sizing material, said edges cooperating to support oversize material and to pass undersize material, there being an opening in the hopper for the discharge of the oversize material, and a follower in the hopper for pressing said material against and between the cutting elements.

6. A separator including a feeding hopper, parallel series of rotatable cutting elements, the elements of each series extending between the elements of the adjoining series, said cutting elements being spaced for sizing material and cooperating to support oversize material and to pass undersize material, all of the said elements constituting the bottom of the hopper, said hopper being provided with an opening for the discharge of oversize material, and a follower in the hopper for press, ing said material against and between the cutting elements.

7. A separator including a feeding hopper, parallel series of rotatable cutting elements, the elements of each series extending between the elements of the adjoining series, said cutting elements being spaced for sizing material and cooperating to support oversize material and to pass undersize material, all of the said elements constituting the bottom of the hopper, said hopper being provided with an opening for the discharge of oversize material, a follower in the hopper for pressing said material against and between the cutting elements, means for driving all of the cutting elements in one direction simultaneously, means for adjusting the series of elements to each other, and fingers projecting upwardly between the cutting elements.

8. A separator including a feeding hopper, parallel series of rotatable cutting elements, the elements of each series extending between the elements of the adjoining series, said cutting elements being spaced for sizing material and cooperating to support oversize material and to pass undersize material, all of the said elements constituting the bottom of the hopper, said hopper being provided With an opening for the discharge of 0versizematerial, a follower in the hopper for pressing said material against and between the cutting elements, means for driving all of the cutting elements in one direction simultaneously, and means for adjusting the series of elements -to each other.

9. A separator including a feeding hopper,

parallel series of rotatable cutting elements, the elements of each series extending "between the elements of the adjoining series, said cutting elements being spaced for sizing ma terial and cooperating to support oversize material and to pass undersize material, all of the said elements constituting the bottom of the hopper, said hopper being provided with an opening for the discharge of oversize material, a follower in the hopper for pressing said material against and between the cuting elements, and means for drivingall of the cutting elements in one direction simultaneously.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I havehereto affixed my signature.

ENOS S. ROYER. 

